Ajax carrying 'his best friend' Achilles off the battlefield. AJAX was known as 'The Shield.'

This is a printed excerpt from Episode Five: “The 24th Shitkickers Were Never the Same after the Peloponnese.” I thought it important enough to put on the blog.

(Beginning of recorded section.)

I’m visiting Washington, D.C. I’m told that Sophocles is in town. He’s at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences on the same ground as the famous Bethesda Naval Hospital. He’s behind a gate guarded by Marines. Well, not the real Sophocles, but his play, his words have wound up here close to Washington, D.C.

The question is, what does Sophocles have to do with a bunch of doctors and psychologists who have gathered here in this medical theater? Well, we have been invited to the reading of the Sophocles play titled, Ajax.

It is a workday and many of the audience have left their jobs and offices to take an hour or two to listen. A reading is where actors sit at a table and say the words from the scripts that lay in front of them. This is a cheap way to put on a show, no costumes, no staging. In the audience are doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists from the university and probably from Bethesda Naval Hospital. There are many different types of uniforms; Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and in the audience are wounded veterans, men and women without arms, legs and service members who have experienced battle firsthand. They have scars; they’re just scars that cannot be seen.

This theater is wood paneled and has approximately 300 seats and has hosted more lectures on medicine and more words on symptom, treatment, and result than the words that are about to be spoken here today. They will talk of ancient heroes, the will of the gods and the state of men.

What is happening is unique.

Amari Cheatom seemed to play the part of the Greek Chorus -- many voices telling truths and inner thoughts.

In front of me is a table with four or five seats and the actors are warming up for the performance to come. They seemed familiar, they should be. From left to right; Amari Cheathom, Broadway and off Broadway actor starred in a play called, Book of Grace, many other stage roles and recently graduated from the prestigious Julliard School of Acting; Chad Coleman, star of many films and television series, recently shot the Green Hornet which will be out in December; Karen Young from the series, The Sopranos, play the female FBI agent, she was recently in a Sam Shepherd play called, A Lie of the Mind; and finally, we have Reed Birney, New York City actor, recently in a play called, Blasted, a very respected TV and stage actor.

Chad Coleman read the part of AJAX and KING AGAMEMNON. He is powerful. He shouted out, "Athena, Daughter of Zeus!" As if he expected her to show up on the stage itself.

Chad Coleman you may recognize from the HBO hit TV show, The Wire. Upon entering the theater, I caught him testing his voice. He kept on shouting out, “Athena, daughter of Zeus,” looking up at the rafters sending his voice out like a ballista sending out a rock against a fortressed wall. He has a powerful voice and a powerful presence. In the reading today, he plays two parts; Ajax and King Agamemnon.

In readings, actors usually double up on the roles. Karen Young plays Athena and Ajax’s wife, Tecmessa.

I caught Mr. Coleman after the show.

Karen Young played ATHENA AND TECMESSA. She was a goddess and a tragic wife, power and pain from one person.

ROB CAIN: That the words that are spoken are older than me, older than this country, older than many nations that exist today, how does it feel like to speak the words that have come over thousands of years and they seemed like something that could have been written yesterday.

COLEMAN: It’s a testament to the human experience. The human experience defies time, you know, there are buildings, there is geography, there is you know the clothes we wear, and all of that, that’s more identifiable with time than human behavior. Human behavior transcends time, obviously, the same things they experience then we are absolutely experiencing now, which is what makes Sophocles so brilliant. Can you get to the epicenter, to the core of human behavior because if you can it’s going to be relatable forever.

(End of COLEMAN Interview)

ROB CAIN: And then there is the director. Mr. Doerries is a New York based writer, translator, director and educator. He is the founder of a theatrical organization called Theater of War. A project that presents readings of ancient Greek plays to service members. In addition to his work in the theater, Bryan serves as an advisor for the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artist and Writers. He lectures on his work at colleges and universities. Over the last couple of years, Mr. Doerries has directed film and stage actors and readings of his translations.

Bryan Doerries, director and Translator of the play AJAX. His work is touring the country telling service members “You are not alone in this room, you are not alone across the country, and you are not alone across time.”

INTERVIEWEE: My name is Bryan Doerries. I’m the founder of Theater of War and I started the project in 2008.

ROB CAIN: Did I hear you correctly that you say that you translated it?

DOERRIES: Yes. I translated the play, Ajax that was performed today, and another, Philoctetes. My background is in classics, Greek and Latin and I came to theater through classics because I love ancient plays and I came to directing through my desire to make those plays come alive and I came to the military because I wanted to find an audience for those ancient plays.

ROB CAIN: What made you decide to translate it yourself as oppose to relying on somebody else?

DOERRIES: There are thousands of translations of every Greek play that exist in every possible language in the Western world. Unfortunately,

Reed Birney (r.) played TEUCER. An archer deadly accurate in his aim. His outrage was powerful, and his criticism on target.

most of them sound like they were written in the 19th century. I’m interested in creating a translation that speaks to the moment, to now and engages people with idioms that they can relate to. That’s not in any slight to the original text. We are always re-inventing the Greeks, the Italians did it in the Renaissance, our founding fathers did it as they built neoclassical architecture throughout this country and our democracy did it, our aesthetics have done it in this country. We have appropriated many things but always with our American perspective. This is a new American translation of this ancient Greek play.

ROB CAIN: When I was listening to Ajax’s wife. She turned to her husband and she said a word that seemed very military to me. She said affirmative. Now, I’m having a hard time understanding the choice of that word. I can’t believe it was in Greek language but was that chosen or was that actually a word?

DOERRIES: Actually, it wasn’t Ajax’s wife, it was Athena who is the head of all…she’s the goddess of war. She is the highest ranking officers of all officers in all armies. And so for her to say affirmative as a word choice is actually quite natural. She is the highest ranking person in the entire Greek army. And to Odysseus, she says affirmative and many other words in the scene to continue to reinforce for Odysseus who is a high ranking officer in the Greek army that she’s in charge. I’ll also say this, you know, let’s not get hung up on what ancient Greek words would sound like in English because there’s no way to do that. A translation is a text along side another text. There is no chemical process by which you distill an ancient word into a modern word. There is no original into English, that doesn’t exist. Unfortunately, I think many people are not aware of the role of the translator in making texts vital. These are performed text. The only way for them to work is for them to sound natural and spoken and clear coming out of actor’s mouth in front of audiences. They’re not to be read, they are to be heard and so that’s the aim that I have in mind as a translator writing affirmative.

ROB CAIN: I read a book, The Last Days of Pompeii, which sounded very much 19th century. I see what you’re trying to get.

DORRIES: Yeah. I mean the Greek lexicon, the dictionary from which most classicist work was codified the 19th, so all the translations of what Greek word sound like and what the idiom sound like sound Victorian, well that’s because that’s when the dictionary was written. The Greeks sounded no more Victorian than the characters in the Hebrew bible, but that’s a choice and we can choose to make them sound like us because in their own time they sounded like them.

ROB CAIN: In taking this performance around to different places, what has it given you?

DORRIES: Oh man, it has been a dream come true. To do something that is meaningful in the theater for an audience that responds the way you heard the audience this morning responds emotionally, presently, as if the place were written for them. There is no greater gift as an artist than to be given an opportunity to do that and I think that’s why so many great actors have joined me on this journey. I have about 50 actors have joined me to perform these plays over the last year and a half and many of them are well-known actors who are giving their time to do it, it’s a rare opportunity to be able to do something with your craft that is helpful to others and you could see a meaningful difference being made through it and also what it gives to me. Well, you know, every week I go up against several hundred military service members in dialogue and conversation. I try to facilitate conversations everywhere from the Department of Defense to Army bases to the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, and I’ve done more than 60 of them and I’ve gotten really comfortable figuring out what things need to be said or not said in order to get an audience talking and about difficult subject matter and I feel like it’s been kind of a Jedi knight training. I mean something that you can’t acquire unless you do it 65 times or a hundred times unless you step out and take the risk of people not talking and you try to figure out how to get them to talk. And so for me, I’ve just grown so much as a human being, as a facilitator over this last two years doing this work.

ROB CAIN: Just one more question, in looking at this ancient text, do you think people really change?

DOERRIES: I think there are elements of the human experience that have not changed for thousands of years and probably will not change and I think what Theater of War points to is the universality of the human experience of war across cultures, across time. If we had one message, it’s not a negative message that we’re repeating history, it’s a positive message which is, “You are not alone in this room, you are not alone across the country, and you are not alone across time.” I had a veteran come up to me after one of our performances and say, “Bryan that PTSD is from BC makes me feel less alone in the world.” It’s precisely that we can relate to ancient stories and see our own experiences reflected in ancient narrative and know that others who have come before us have struggled with the same things we’re feeling that allows us to know that we are not the only ones who have had these experiences and that’s really the aim of Theater of War.

ROB CAIN: Thank you very much.

DOERRIES: Yeah. Absolutely. Thanks for coming.

(End of Recording, segment from Episode Five, “The 24th Shitkickers Were Never the Same after the Peloponnese.”)

The next episode of Ancient Rome Refocusedis on the Emperors. The title of Episode Six is: “I’m the Emperor and You’re Not.”

We are going to pretend that one day you get invited to a job interview to be emperor of the Roman World. You are going to be asked a series of questions, and the Empire and your life may depend on the answer.

I would like to say in my fake headline: “Halle Berry my first choice for Zenobia,” says Spielburg…but frankly I don’t have the power to make him do anything and so far he has done a pretty good job on his own. If he did take suggestions, I would strongly suggest to make Queen Zenobia the project of his next film. If anyone looks like a queen, especially of a strong empire, this is the lady. I got an email from Judith Weingarten who wrote the book: Zenobia: Empress of the East who expressed the same frustration at Hollywood’s blind eye when it comes to this subject. I am currently checking out her web site and blog at: http://judithweingarten.blogspot.com/

Western media repeatedly makes movies about Cleopatra, and holds her up as the ideal of sexual allure, and in the meantime sells hair products and assorted beauty creams in her name. Yet, the Ptolmey Queen had to re lie on both Caesar and Antony to retain her power. At the first sign of trouble at Actium didn’t she sail away on her ship leaving Antony to face Octavian alone? What makes Cleopatra so interesting to the public?

Now as for Zenobia, now we are talking about a queen that really kicked ass. She was the third century Syrian queen of the Palmyrene Empire who led a revolt against the Roman Empire. Why aren’t there movies from Hollywood about her? She was the second wife of King Septimus Odaenathus and following his death decided to rule in her son’s name.

Roman Name: Iulia Aurelia Zenobia.

Sir Edward Poynter'sNeo-classical painting: "Zenobia Captive."

Arabic Name: al-Zabba’ bint ‘Amr ibn al-Zarib ibn Hassan ibn Adhinat ibn al-Samida. (This is the best I could do with the font that I am using).

According to Wikipedia she appears to be of Arab ancestry, but her lineage may have included Aramaean and ancient Egyptian. She claimed to be an ancestor of Cleopatra and the Carthaginian Queen Dido. She had knowledge of Egyptian Culture and it is thought her mother was of Egyptian ancestry. Classical and Arabic scholars described her as having a dark complexion, and she was considered beautiful and intelligent.

She bestowed on herself and her son the following titles: Augusta and Augustus. But her most famous title should be: WARRIOR QUEEN.

Hey, I like Cleopatra as much as the next history ‘time-traveler’, but shouldn’t Zenobia get her shot at an Oscar? I think we should start a letter writing campaign?

No. I’m afraid not. But Halle Berry starring in a Hollywood film about Queen Zenobia is one heck of an idea.

What is coming out soon is another film on Cleopatra.

I do a lot of thinking on what would make a good podcast, and I find myself staring off into space at Starbuck’s dreaming of far away places and histories unwritten.

Lately I have been wondering about the mania that Cleopatra has over people, and I am wondering if its more Hollywood than anything else. I know it began with the major discoveries by Napolean scientists during his military campaign in Egypt, and the finds of buried Egyptian treasure in the 1920s that have captured peoples imaginations. But there was something else that started this Cleomania — the something else was called: film. Now Cleo was not just for those who could afford paintings, or attendance at the opera, or for those who spent their school years studying the classics, Cleo went national and then global. For a few pennies (yes…at one time the price of admission at a movie was a few pennies) you too could experience the QUEEN OF THE NILE.

YES, ANGELINA JOLIE HAS BEEN SIGNED TO PLAY CLEOPATRA.

Except…except…why Cleopatra? Why is it always Cleopatra?

I mean why not Queen Zenobia with Halle Berry in the starring role?

Think about it. If you really think about it…you too will be staring off into space next time you’re at Starbucks.

If you think about this type of stuff as well you may want to read the book Roma Eterna by Robert Silverberg.

He writes of an empire that does not die but changes, adapts, and clings to the pagan gods.

You know how I judge a good book? Well, for one thing its my second reading of it, and it was just as exciting as the first time I read it. What’s more I stayed up rather late to read the whole thing. If you can’t put it down…you know it’s good.

The only issues I have with the book is that it slightly opposes my view of what might actually happen if such a thing was possible.

Silverburg’s book in order to show the progression of Roman power and influence we have a continuous references to the emperor, to the consulship, to references to Roma, to names no matter what the century that reflects the Roman influence such as Apollinaris, Marcus Anatasius, Torgquatus, Laurelolus, and Rufus.

As the centuries passed, as time moved on, the names would be less and less Roman sounding.

I believe that names would begin to move away from latin roots over time, and Apollinaris would be most likely referred to as Pollo, or Laurelolus and Laurel. And even the emperor himself would be more executive sounding as possible turning from emperor to the ‘Imperial Chief Executive’ or something like that.

That’s just me.

And why not an alternate world where the Senate turned into a version of the United Nations?

It’s my believe that over time, the roman influence would be no more strange sounding to our ears as the fact of our own Senate, and Washington architecture that reflects the times of republican Rome.

In my version of events what if the Imperial Power was shared in almost the same way as the current power of the Pontiff in Rome? What if every twenty or 40 years a new emperor is chosen in a different part of the world? A truly power sharing organization, where the seat of government shifts, and one person become the ‘Imperial Chief Executive’ and commands unlimited power. Is this so much different that the Catholic Church and the College of Cardinals recent habit of choosing non-Italians to take the seat of pope?

What if the pressure of the barbarian press on its borders subsided? What if Atilla never pressed and the Goth’s did not seek asylum, and the chain reaction of people (the Alans, the Vandals, and the Bergundians) on the move did not take place? What if decisions to allow certain people settle within the borders of Rome were reversed?

I know this is in the area of fantasy…why even talk about it?

We’ll for one reason its fun.

What if Rome survived? I know…impossible. Every civilization that rises to flex itself and make itself felt in the world ebbs and eventually wanes.

Greece rose to power while looking in the face of the Persians.

Rome rose to dominate the Mediterranean world.

And various Assyrian, and Babylonians had their time to dominate the world, only to recede.

Look at China. At one time a huge ancient Empire – one of the oldest civilizations – a dominant ancient kingdom that fell from power, to be dominated by western powers (google boxer rebellion), attacked by Japanese Imperial Forces only to step recently onto the world stage and continues to grow and make its presence felt.

And what about us – the AMEERICANs (sic)?

I happen to have a more upbeat look to the future – believing firmly the American Golden Age is still on its way. We Americans have survived meeting Goliaths in the world before, and have always managed to guide that rock to the forehead when someone got in our way.

Anyway, we move faster!

Democracies have too!

Roma Eterna is for anyone that is a ‘What If” fan of science fiction and the fantasy genre.

What if Rome tried to conquer the New World?

What if a Roman armada that circumvents the globe bringing destruction on native island people?

And what if a world tired of an endless stream of emperors rises up to install a republic that takes over and ends the imperial line, only to have Roman power to remain?

What if a strange old man is found living in a German forest lodge, who strangely looks like the child of the final emperor?

And finally what if a Jewish sect decides another Exodus is needed and the only place left to follow the new Profit is the stars?

Give it a read.

Is it on the Ancient Rome Refocused bookshelf? Not yet, still looking for a copy to permanently place there, and the book that I took out of the library is way overdue.

I rate a book by whether I simply read it or I devour it. This I devoured.

Empire is the story of a family who are eyewitnesses to the glory and the decadence of the Emperors spanning 4 generations from 14 A.D. to 141 B.C. Over time the Pinarius family see murder, mayhem, and even the burning of Rome itself in the great fire. They are not untouched by it. One generation is molested by Caligula, one dies by his own hand at the final days of Nero.

It is a wild ride. Saylor is known for his Roma Sub Rosa series starring Gordianus the finder. Normally his ‘detective’ works in a small microcosm of alleyway and lamp lit rooms investigating thieves, thugs and the famous (Cicero, Caesar, etc) only moving as far and wide as he can walk, ride or sail from his beloved Rome. But in the book Empire we sweep across the generations, seeing a city, its empire and its emperors change through the eyes of a single family.

Early in the book the Pinarius brothers (twins) go their separate ways. In the time of Nero one brother is the emperor’s favorite and the other a Christian in the shadows. Many authors (especially Lloyd C. Douglas – The Robe, and Lew Wallace – Ben-Hur) held no secrets that their novels were settings of tales for the coming of Christianity. Saylor’s book has an entirely deciding different track. Saylor brings us Rome unvarnished and clean of 20th or 21st Century sensibilities. We are seeing ancient Rome through pagan eyes, through the pagan temperament, and through the Roman Psyche.

A scene in the book is the great fire of Rome (remember Nero fiddling as Rome burned?). Titus the proper patrician seeks out his Christian brother living in the Christian quarter. It is hard thing to watch a city that you love destroyed, a fire that threatens your home and the memory of your ancestors, and witness your brother shout: “…the end of all things. Praise God!”

What would your reaction be? I mean as a Roman.

“Watching the gruesome punishments of the arsonist gave Titus no pleasure, but it was his somber duty as a citizen, and as friend of the emperor to witness the event.”

Emperor Nero

For a moment I thought I had picked up a horror story instead of an historical novel. Nero rounds up the Christians to take the fall, and makes a speech quite legal, quite logical, quite sensible before dogs rip people apart in retribution, or as the Roman’s might say “proper punishment.” Saylor describes humiliations dressed up in ancient myth ending in death for the condemned. He describes Christians used as human torches for the ‘convenience’ of the crowd so that the games can continue into the night. It is then Saylor masterly changes the perspective, and for a moment I too was in the arena. I literally felt a chill down my spine, a reaction frankly I did not expect. I only felt this once before and that was while reading Stephen King’s novel: IT.

This epic switches to Lucius, another son of the Pinarius line. We now stand next to him as he viewed the opening of the Flavius Amphitheater (known today as the coliseum) and are provided a seat to see an unapologetic presentation of slaughter for the amusement of the crowd. The slaughter is presented proudly, and how else ancient Romans describe such a spectacle? It represents power, the unquestionable demonstration that the Roman people are favored in the eyes of the gods.

Saylor would be the first to say: “It’s all about the emperors.” If you’re a fan of the Augustus, Vespasian, Trajan and Hadrian pull up a chair. If you’re a fan of the more colorful emperors such as Claudius and Caligula, there is plenty to read. Empire is well researched and certainly entertaining.

Saylor opens the book with an interesting quote from Gustave Le Bon who studied the psychology of crowds:

“History is scarcely capable of preserving the memory of anything except the myths.”

Why would Saylor pick this quote to open his book?

I suppose it has to do with context. Le Bon lived during a period where the word ‘Emperor’ was still fresh in peoples’ minds. He saw a tendency for historians to mythologize Napoleon Bonaparte – a man that brought great destruction upon the continent of Europe and had power equal to any Roman emperor.

However, Saylor presents raw and undiluted narratives of the emperors, and he supports it with research from the works of Seutonius, Plutarch and Tacitius. He avoids mythologizing them, but lays them out warts and all.

I highly recommend this book to the listeners of Ancient Rome Refocused.It’s hard to put down and keeps your attention like listening to a good storyteller at the Esquiline Gate.

Title: "The 24th Shitkickers Were Never The Same After The Peloponnese"

If you talk about the Romans you have to talk about the Greeks. This episode explores the ancient Greek play AJAX written by Sophocles. Included in this episode are interviews with Bryan Doerries, director and translator for the New York based THEATER OF WAR acting troupe.

I just received in the mail Steven Saylor’s new book: EMPIRE. I got 4 days off coming up and I’m going to spend the time reading the book. Look for a review here on Ancient Rome Refocused in the coming weeks.

Season Three of Ancient Rome Refocused

Episode 13 -- "My MEU can beat your Roman Legio."
Rob Cain Interviews the screenwriter James Erwin who wrote a story on the popular website REDIT and it was purchased by a movie company. In addition, Rob interviews Gunny Sergeant "Red" Millis who provides insight into the capabilities of a Marine Expeditionary Unit. Both screen writer and Marine answer the question, "Can a MEU beat the Rome Empire?"
MP3 File
Episode 14 - "It's Good to be Queen."
The subject is the 3rd century queen who defied Rome and tried to carve out an Empire. Want to know more?
MP3 File

Season Two of Ancient Rome Refocused

Episode 7 -- "Washington Wore a Toga."
Our founding fathers and the Roman's have more in common than you think.

Episode 11 - "Who is James A. Bretney?"
James A. Bretney, film director has put together a TV pilot about the Roman Governor Creticus ("The Man of Chalk.") How far is the Hollywood of the now, different from acting in the ancient world?

Episode 12 - Title -- "Venus and Imaginative Archaeology"
In this episode Venus (the statue of the goddess) takes a journey across time. Jordan Harbour of the popular podcast Twilight Histories is interviewed (providing us insights into alternate histories of Ancient Rome). There is a book review of "A Guide to Archaeological Field Methods" with commentary by William Glover, archaeologist and historian.
MP3 File

Season One of Ancient Rome Refocused

Episode 1 -- "What have the Romans ever done for us?"
Introduction to the series Ancient Rome Refocused.

Episode 5 --"The 24th Shitkickers Were Never The Same After The Peloponnese."
If you talk about the Romans you have to talk about the Greeks. This episode explores the ancient Greek play AJAX written by Sophocles. Included in this episode are interviews with Bryan Doerries, director and translator for the New York based THEATER OF WAR acting troupe.

Episode 6 --"I'm the Emperor and You're Not."
A look at a boy who visits a soothsayer and is foretold of his rise to the Emperorship.The listener then travels back in time (in Mr. Cain's time machine) to interview for the position of emperor. This is the last episode of Season One.

Ancient Rome Refocused Hotline

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Thanks for being a member of Ancient Rome Refocused. You are now part of the Senate, and what does a Senate like to do?

TALK, bicker, argue, debate!

If you have an opinion, leave it on the blog: http://ancientromerefocused.org

Don't be shy...this blog site is protected by the muse Calliope (epic poetry), and her sister Clio (muse of history).

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1. Educate through ideas
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5. Attack ideas not people

What’s your opinion? What have you read recently? Have you visited an ancient site? Would you like to visit one? What is your dream vacation?

Are you a member of a Roman Legio that meets every month? Tell us about it?

You can do three things...write in to the blog, the facebook group page or CALL!

In fact, phone in now...no one is looking.

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Need to get something off your chest on the assassination of Julius Caesar?

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Make the call and I will put you on the air.

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Call:

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The author: [url=”/contact/”]Rob Cain[/url]

Rob Cain has traveled extensively through Europe, Italy, and Egypt. He is a fan of history, and enjoys reading books on the history of Rome. He currently has a podcast presentation on itunes and hipcast. The blog is for the free and open discussion of Ancient Rome based on Mr. Cain's observations noted in his podcast. Most episodes start out with an original dramatic narration written by Mr. Cain. In the podcasts he will include his own unique commentary, and interviews with subject matter experts. Comments are welcome and will be highlighted on the show.

Quotes

"The house of Western Civilization has many rooms but only one basement."Stephen Anderson, former head of the Classics at Winchester College

"To Romans I set no boundary in space or time. I have granted them dominion, and it has no end."Virgil, The Aeneid

"Those that have lived lives of mythological proportion have no trouble relating to ancient myth."Bryan Dorries, Theater of War (Director and Translator of the play AJAX presented to Soldiers returning from war)

"Ancient Rome declined because it had a Senate, now what's going to happen to us with both a House and a Senate?"Will Rodgers, humorist

"Fiction and Drama freely invent and alter...but in the simple history there was ambition, pride, cruelty, ruthlessness, jealously, deceit, savagery and passion enough."Adrian Goldsworthy, author of the 2010 book titled: Antony and Cleopatra.

"Each age tries to form its own conception of the past. Each age writes the history of the past anew with reference to the conditions uppermost in its own time."Frederick Jackson Turner (November 14, 1861 – March 14, 1932) was an influential American historian in the early 20th century. He is best known for his book, The Significance of the Frontier in American History.

"Once curious feature of Roman-British studies must be noted. This is a tendency, perhaps due to the retractable nature of evidence, to create myths." Professor Rivet, author of Town and Country in Roman Britain. (1958)

"There are gods in everything." Thales of Miletus upon observing the effects of magnetic rock.

"Whatever was is now." -- OVID

I say: "What a lovely mound! Can't we dig here?" Max shakes his head sadly and pronounces the word of doom. "Roman."-- From Agatha Christie's book (mystery writer): Come Tell Me How You Live. A quote by her husband, Sir Max Mallowan, noted archeologist, showing his disappointment of not having a site to dig in his field of interest. Agatha Christie and her husband Sir Max Mallowan traveled throughout Syria and Iraq on field digs.

"History is sometimes a song in which many voices over many periods of time sing yet the themes of war and loss, love and redemption, strength and weakness echo over thousands of years from the treatment of veteran's to the short sightedness of the government, seem to form a rhyme which echos down the halls of time."-- William Glover, Archaelogist.

"I've stood up on Archilles' tomb, and heard Troy doubted; time will doubt of Rome."-- Lord Byron

"...I'm curious about things people aren't suppose to see -- so, for example I like going to the British Museum, but I would like it better if I could go into all the offices and storage rooms, I want to look in all the drawers and -- discover stuff."Rob Cain's sentiment as expressed by the character Julia in the book HER FEARFUL SYMMETRY.

"One of the best parts of my research is going to the British Library, pulling out an eighth century manuscript written on cowhide [vellum], and realizing your are literally the first person to read it in a 1000 years." Michael Penn from Mount Holyoke College.

Books you should enjoy

1. Ghosts of Vesuvius by Charles Pellegrino. Sub title: A new look at the last days of Pompeii, how towers fall, and other strange connections. Copyright 2004.

2. A.D.62: Pompeii by Rebecca East. A book about a time traveler and her experiences back in ancient Pompeii. Copyright 2003.

8. The Age of Bronze Series by Eric Shanower, Graphic Novels on Ancient Troy.

9. The Egyptologist by Arthur Phillips, Random House, Copyright 2004.

10. The Ancient Guide to Modern Life by Natalie Haynes.

Listen to the podcast here!

Blog Reviews of Ancient Rome Refocused

FROM THE ANNE IS THE MAN BLOG SITE:

Ancient Rome Refocused is a new history podcast that deserves the highest acclaim. This podcast seems to be about Roman history, but in fact is about much more. This is because it is a podcast both of history narrative, which obviously is concentrated on Rome, and of history musings. On account of the last quality, already, the podcast has been widely compared with Dan Carlin's Hardcore History. I would also like to compare the show with Nate DiMeo's Memory Palace.

Host and maker of the podcast Rob Cain is off on a magnificent start with his series and even now, three episodes into the feed, we must grant him his own ground and assure that he is making something unique, something very good and in addition to that, I am absolutely sure, the history podcast audience is going to adore. The comparisons with Dan Carlin and Nate DiMeo serve here only as a characterization and not as some example of what Cain is trying to emulate. Cain combines the history musings, like Dan Carlin, with the astonishing narrative qualities of Nate DiMeo. Cain is telling Roman history with a quality of narrative immediacy that equals the impressive standard of DiMeo's Memory Palace and continues to engage in thoughts about that history in the compelling way of Dan Carlin's Hardcore History. Thus he establishes an impressive combination of styles that both work extremely well in podcast and he does so with his own voice, his own style that bears only comparison, but not similarity with the mentioned predecessors.

First of all, I'd simply urge you to go and listen without letting me spoil the surprises in particular and the fun in general (feed). Allow me to highlight just these three identifiers for the first three issues. The first makes excellent use of Monty Python's scene in Life of Brian 'What have the Romans ever done for us'. The second lays out the basics of the Roman reality by projecting time travel. The third delivers a subtle expose on slavery in Rome (that dwarfs Dan Carlin's adventure into slavery) which is both history, audio drama, a poignant contemporary critique of low wage labor and prostitution as well as the most balanced analysis of Spartacus' slave revolt I have encountered ever. With even more lines to current times.

Even if Rob Cain stops now, he has produced a podcast classic. The idea he is about to deliver a fourth, and likely more episodes has me both reel in anticipation and yet also a bit worried: can he keep up with the towering standard he has set off with?

Walk This [Roman] Way
I did make one hypothesis while I was there. Just one. I wish I could share with you more than that. It was something I noticed. As I stood close to the location to the Temple of the Vestal Virgins I could see the collossium. In fact it is in walking distance. It was not that far from the Senate building where the laws were made, and the emperors sat, and I could imagine that when the wind was good, and the conditions right, 50, 000 voices shouting in their blood lust could be heard through the windows.

I wonder what laws were passed based on that sound?

I've been thoroughly enjoying the Ancient Rome Refocused podcast. It has the informality and "outside the envelope" thinking that puts one in mind of Hardcore History (I have a feeling that Rob Cain is going to get very tired of that comparison). Now I see that his blog is just as entertaining, informative, and thought provoking. Check it out.

Click here to go to Forgotten Classics and see the blog site and the review.

From the Teacher Toys Blog Site:

This is a podcast by an enthusiastic amateur. He has a lot to say about Ancient Rome. Since I'm teaching Roman History for the first time this year, I'm finding this pretty useful stuff.

Click here to go to Teacher Toys and see the blog site and the review.

From the forum myextralife.com, posted by 'runtspell'

"Another recent find for me is Ancient Rome Refocused. I can't overstate how much I enjoy this one! Check it out."

From Reddit History Comments

"Like a lot of people here I listen to the History of Rome podcast, done almost like clockwork weekly, by Mike Duncan. But a relatively new one, if you're into Roman history is Ancient Rome Refocused which is a lot more themeatical, rather than chronological, but we're lucky to get a new episode every couple of months."

Comment from Capital Grilling web site:

"If you're at all interested, Ancient Rome Refocused is also a good, if infrequently updated, podcast too. Instead of the History as a linear story of THOR, ARR tends to take a specific topic and spend an hour exploring it. One episode, for example, focused exclusively on the Roman Triumph."

Off-hand comment on Ancient Rome Refocused on a Blog entry on the road construction called 'roundabouts.':

Re: Roundabouts in the USA
by CarpeDiem » Fri Jul 01, 2011 12:06 am

I was able to figure out that roundabout thing, and even did a few loops around it (while listening to Ancient Rome Refocused of course!

Blog entry on the No Press Blog site.:

ancient rome refocused.

i like this one because i’ve just been cherry picking topics i think i’ll like. e.g. ‘the first thriller’ (about theseus and the minotaur). have a browse.

On the Average Gay Joe Web Site:

I had thought that Duncan was the only worthy podcast on ancient Rome out there, until I recently discovered Rob Cain's Ancient Rome Refocused. While I've only listened to the first episode thus far, it appears in some ways to be a mash-up of Duncan's with another favorite of mine: Bruce Carlson's My History Can Beat Up Your Politics. By this I mean that Cain, in the first episode at least, talks about the Western fascination with ancient Rome and draws some comparisons between their history and that of modern times. I must say that the 9/11 recordings from NYC emergency personnel were chilling to hear again, especially so close to the 10th anniversary of that day, but linking this to what the destruction of Pompeii must have been like to the ancient Roman psyche was brilliant. This also means to me that Charles Pellegrino's book Ghosts of Vesuvius, undoubtedly one of the main inspirations behind Cain's first podcast, merits careful attention in its own right. All in all, a very commendable start to what I'm sure will be a podcast that I'll enjoy just as much as I do Duncan's.

Give them both a try if you haven't already, because if you love history as much as I do you won't be disappointed.

http://averagegayjoe.blogspot.com/

by CarpeDiem » Wed Jun 01, 2011 2:22 am: On the HISTORY OF ROME web site

I agree that what makes Rome interesting is how many of the ideas that formed the backbone of the U.S. constitution were Roman and and Greek (and even British too). The latest episode of the Ancient Rome Refocused podcast delves into the influence of Cicero, Plutarch, Livy, and Polybius, and how the Founding Fathers' obsession made its way into the fabric of our government (btw.. Polybius's ideas of balance of power and government evolution come from Aristotle - thanks to Mike on the tour for pointing this out).

Through battle, triumphs, and high-office, Romans sought immortal fame. Based on this aspiration, they would be thrilled to know that their ideas, or their expression of their ideas learned from Greece, live on in Rome's protegeé: the U.S. and the western world. I like to think of Roman history as a back-in-time continuation of American history. That's what makes Rome so exciting. Rome repsesents where we came from and where we may go. We have the gift of past history knowledge, and that gives us the tools to make a better future.

On Textkit » by beerclark » Mon Oct 17, 2011 2:10 am

I wish I could tell you about a good TV or Movie documentary, but I only know what I happen to find on a learning channel when I have time to watch TV.

I will say that for podcasts, I have found 2 that I think are great. They are both by amateurs but I think their passion and their respect for history comes out in the podcasts. They both make mistakes and acknowledge them [and forget pronunciations]. Yet they obviously put in time and effort into their work and I think it shows.

1) The History of Rome: by Michael Duncan - A chronological history of the Roman Republic/Empire. It is based on the rulers [emporers] through the ages with the occasional episode on the culture. There is Mr Duncan's sense of humor inserted along with the occasional veiled joke. He also is very clear on his sources, especially on questionable or disputed parts of Roman history.
2) Ancient Rome Refocused: by Rob Cain - This is more giving a perspective of Rome to modern times. Not so much to compare and contrast so much as trying to tie the two together to make the listener understand those times then hitting them with the reality of the ancient times. One episode was specifically about someone going back in time to ancient Rome. Then questioning the listener as to their current morality & hygiene to what it would take to just survive back then.

I know its not exactly what you asked about but I thought it might be worth mentioning these to you.